Good information! Unfortunately some (retired) residence in my area with no mortgage have had their insurance cancelled due to older house issues they can not afford to repair. The homes are well built and close to all amenities. They don't want to live in a 'bee hive.'
I bet if everyone in an old home in Victoria had to apply again for insurance from scratch most would not be insurable without major work. Just like how most homeowners probably can't qualify for their mortgages.
We agreed with Diesel735. That is why some older relatives and friends of ours decided NOT to sell their homes ! They don't want to spend all their energy, time and money to fix up their 30 to 50 year old houses and then sell it to someone else to enjoy. They might as well stay and forget about buying a newer home. Great for Renovation companies, but bad for the 1,600 + realtors in Victoria.
Many thx, Mr. Willey. You have certainly opened my eyes. I am not in the market to buy, but i'm now, thx to your video, much more informed about the pitfalls of older - even if charming! - homes. I've gained a new respect for all the regulations that, at first appearance, have seemed to be simply burdensome. Your video should be compulsory viewing for home buyers. Well done!
Great video. We purchased a 1955 home here in Victoria 2 years ago. Performed all upgrades specified in this video, with the exception of the roof; that will come next year.
Anything pre 1980 in Canada has potential for asbestos materials. That could be insulation, floor tile and adhesive, pipe wrapping and especially drywall mud and ceiling stipple.
Great points but perhaps overstated. I’m in a 100 year old home with knob and tube, albeit with a newer upgraded panel. BCAA was able to insure it after an additional safety certification. Knob and tube, in and of itself, is ok. It is the potential deterioration, exposed wiring and bad updates that are the real issue.
@@PNW_Sportbike_Life Explain why. It is copper, just like the NM wire used today. If the sheathing is good and there aren't any modifications it isn't a safety issue. Use a new panel and breaker, put a GFI plug on the circuit, and don't overload it.
K&T doesn't have a bond conductor. Installing GFCIs receptacles only partially mitigates this. GFCI breakers or dead fronts would be a better solution. In either case, counting on a GFCI to protect bad wiring isn't as safe as having good wiring.
On the home insurance is there an issue now about how close the property is to woodland due to the BC wildfires? And insurance prices seem to be going up and up in the last two or three years.
My house was built in 1908. In 1946 there was a 7.3 earthquake in Victoria . No damage at all. I wonder how those flimsy particle board and plastic new builds would hold up to a quake. Especially the ones built on sand on the way to Metchosen. That whole development makes me shudder …
Here is my list for new homes built since the 70's. Built with wafer and chipboard. Any moisture and they will rot to mush. And there will be moisture . A roofing contractor told me that every house will need the waferboard sheathing replace when putting a new roof on. Lots of toxic fumes off those products too. Subpar concrete in the foundation and driveway that may meet code but the code has a low barrier these days .Watch for cracks in them. Structural lumber is garbage too. Watch your walls and ceiling get bulges and crack and nails pop out. Lots of them built on covered up landfills or toxic waste disposal sites and the good lots were built n a long time ago. And the contractors are incompetent and overpriced these days , looking to cut corners. Using nails too small or not galvanize when they should be or cheap Chinese ones that look good but are made from inferior metal. I could go on and on but I will never buy a house newer than the 60's.
I totally agree . My circa 1908 house has real wood and lathe and plaster walls . Still have the original wood floors, wow are those strips long ! You don’t see that anymore . The beams in the basement are solid and huge . It has withstood a 7.5 earthquake , in 1928 I think. It’s solid . Never would I but a house built today ! My father built houses and I know what I’m looking at … cheap everything structural , and expensive countertops . If you’re lucky you’ll get cork flooring, if not it’s totally fake …. Anything after the 70s is real crap.
Maybe not right in Victoria but in neighbouring regions there is the the risk of archeological requirements. I looked at a waterfront home needing the septic field redone. The owner had quote from 8 years ago for 30k to re-do it all, which is trivial on a 1.4M home, but the area had an archeology covenant placed on it out of the blue - so anyone wanting to just fix the septic would have to endure years of an archeological dig and up to $200k just to look for some refuse left by humans a few hundred years ago.
Damage from rats breaking into crawl spaces, attics and walls, sheds and the like. Rats are epic in Victoria B.C as the climate is mild and they thrive here. Yet another problem homeowners have in Victoria, but older the homes, the chances at some point, rats breached the premises and causes damage.
@@alicesamuels3937 Yes, they sure are good at their trade, mine is out most of the night hunting them and brings them home now and then to show off or tell me of his hunt.
leaky condos was from poor design and poor construction. modern stucco does not belong on the wet west coast. rain screen is a solution to a problem that should not have happened. 40 years residential and commercial experience.
If you are not able to do 90% of the work yourself or have enough money to pay for all repair without financing, don't buy an old house but most importantly don't buy a house in BC
Did I miss anything to watch out for in an old house? Let me know
Ya, like $500,000 in repairs
Ira, thanks for this, you're a star when it comes to assisting buyers & sellers.
Thank you for the kind words!
Good information!
Unfortunately some (retired) residence in my area with no mortgage have had their insurance cancelled due to older house issues they can not afford to repair.
The homes are well built and close to all amenities. They don't want to live in a 'bee hive.'
I bet if everyone in an old home in Victoria had to apply again for insurance from scratch most would not be insurable without major work. Just like how most homeowners probably can't qualify for their mortgages.
We agreed with Diesel735.
That is why some older relatives and friends of ours decided NOT to sell their homes !
They don't want to spend all their energy, time and money to fix up their 30 to 50 year old houses and then sell it to someone else to enjoy. They might as well stay and forget about buying a newer home.
Great for Renovation companies, but bad for the 1,600 + realtors in Victoria.
They want your house for aboriginals and immigrants.
50k for a perimeter drain sounds like I found a new career
That’s nonsense . I had mine done at my 1908 house for under 10.
Many thx, Mr. Willey.
You have certainly opened my eyes.
I am not in the market to buy, but i'm now, thx to your video, much more informed about the pitfalls of older - even if charming! - homes.
I've gained a new respect for all the regulations that, at first appearance, have seemed to be simply burdensome.
Your video should be compulsory viewing for home buyers.
Well done!
Great video. We purchased a 1955 home here in Victoria 2 years ago. Performed all upgrades specified in this video, with the exception of the roof; that will come next year.
Anything pre 1980 in Canada has potential for asbestos materials. That could be insulation, floor tile and adhesive, pipe wrapping and especially drywall mud and ceiling stipple.
Same in the US. Wasn’t outlawed till about 1979.
Thanks..lifting conditions in gorge on tuesday 1937 house. Relieved anxiety
Lead paint is also a serious concern on homes older than 1978.
Great points but perhaps overstated. I’m in a 100 year old home with knob and tube, albeit with a newer upgraded panel. BCAA was able to insure it after an additional safety certification. Knob and tube, in and of itself, is ok. It is the potential deterioration, exposed wiring and bad updates that are the real issue.
No, it’s the knob and tube lol
@@PNW_Sportbike_Life Explain why. It is copper, just like the NM wire used today. If the sheathing is good and there aren't any modifications it isn't a safety issue. Use a new panel and breaker, put a GFI plug on the circuit, and don't overload it.
K&T doesn't have a bond conductor. Installing GFCIs receptacles only partially mitigates this. GFCI breakers or dead fronts would be a better solution.
In either case, counting on a GFCI to protect bad wiring isn't as safe as having good wiring.
On the home insurance is there an issue now about how close the property is to woodland due to the BC wildfires? And insurance prices seem to be going up and up in the last two or three years.
My house was built in 1908. In 1946 there was a 7.3 earthquake in Victoria . No damage at all. I wonder how those flimsy particle board and plastic new builds would hold up to a quake. Especially the ones built on sand on the way to Metchosen. That whole development makes me shudder …
the outside light is mounted upside down, what a bad first impression
Good catch!
lol ! Maybe that’s how they like it .
@@alicesamuels3937- it looks stupid, mounted that way!
Here is my list for new homes built since the 70's. Built with wafer and chipboard. Any moisture and they will rot to mush. And there will be moisture . A roofing contractor told me that every house will need the waferboard sheathing replace when putting a new roof on. Lots of toxic fumes off those products too. Subpar concrete in the foundation and driveway that may meet code but the code has a low barrier these days .Watch for cracks in them. Structural lumber is garbage too. Watch your walls and ceiling get bulges and crack and nails pop out. Lots of them built on covered up landfills or toxic waste disposal sites and the good lots were built n a long time ago. And the contractors are incompetent and overpriced these days , looking to cut corners. Using nails too small or not galvanize when they should be or cheap Chinese ones that look good but are made from inferior metal. I could go on and on but I will never buy a house newer than the 60's.
I totally agree . My circa 1908 house has real wood and lathe and plaster walls . Still have the original wood floors, wow are those strips long ! You don’t see that anymore . The beams in the basement are solid and huge . It has withstood a 7.5 earthquake , in 1928 I think. It’s solid . Never would I but a house built today ! My father built houses and I know what I’m looking at … cheap everything structural , and expensive countertops . If you’re lucky you’ll get cork flooring, if not it’s totally fake …. Anything after the 70s is real crap.
You are absolutely right . The standards and workmanship today are abominable. You do not get what you pay for .
And hiring off-the-boat incompetents because they work cheap.
Maybe not right in Victoria but in neighbouring regions there is the the risk of archeological requirements. I looked at a waterfront home needing the septic field redone. The owner had quote from 8 years ago for 30k to re-do it all, which is trivial on a 1.4M home, but the area had an archeology covenant placed on it out of the blue - so anyone wanting to just fix the septic would have to endure years of an archeological dig and up to $200k just to look for some refuse left by humans a few hundred years ago.
50’s stucco is much different than the acrylic stucco you are talking about in Vancouver. Really no comparison.
Mold, then there is mold, and after that, there is mold.
Spoiler Alert. I have a fridge that beeps when it detects mold.
@IraWilley There is no mold alerts for leaky basements, attics, and walls. It is the wet coast afterall , but yes .... your fridge will be fine.
You misspelled foundation problems
@@BillyCarsley I hate it when my grade three grammar teacher stalks me.Yikkes.
@@Bufford2024 looool.
Can you go after the seller if there is a UST (Underground Storage Tank) found after the sale?
That lamp at the door is upside down
Old wiring, expensive as fuck to change wiring
Damage from rats breaking into crawl spaces, attics and walls, sheds and the like. Rats are epic in Victoria B.C as the climate is mild and they thrive here. Yet another problem homeowners have in Victoria, but older the homes, the chances at some point, rats breached the premises and causes damage.
We have 2 cats living with us. They are the best of employees . Occasionally they will bring me one ….
@@alicesamuels3937 Yes, they sure are good at their trade, mine is out most of the night hunting them and brings them home now and then to show off or tell me of his hunt.
leaky condos was from poor design and poor construction. modern stucco does not belong on the wet west coast. rain screen is a solution to a problem that should not have happened. 40 years residential and commercial experience.
Victoria has a lot of moldy homes that are making them sick.
old houses are kept together by paint, etc
If you are not able to do 90% of the work yourself or have enough money to pay for all repair without financing, don't buy an old house but most importantly don't buy a house in BC
Red flag !!!! Porch light upside down...🤦♂️
Sod it. Live in a tent/car
what do you know, kid. you're a used car salesman.